View source for Gianni Rivera

{{short description|Italian footballer and politician (born 1943)}}
{{Distinguish|Gianni Ravera}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Giovanni Rivera
|image         = Rivera.jpg
|image_size    = 
|caption       = Official portrait, 1996
|office1       = [[Member of European Parliament]]  
|term_start1   = 25 May 2005
|term_end1     = 13 July 2009
|constituency1 = [[North-West Italy (European Parliament constituency)|North-West Italy]]
|office2       = Member of the [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]]
|term_start2   = 2 July 1987
|term_end2     = 29 May 2001
|constituency2 = [[Milan]]
|birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1943|8|18}}<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/>
|birth_place   = [[Alessandria]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]]<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/>
|party         = [[Democratic Centre (Italy)|CD]] (2013)<br>[[The Daisy|DL]] (2002–2007)<br>[[The Democrats (Italy)|Dem]] (1999–2002)<br>[[Segni Pact]] (1994–1996)<br>[[Christian Democracy (Italy)|DC]] (1987–1994)
|residence     = 
|occupation    = {{flatlist|
* [[Association football|Footballer]] (retired)
* Politician
}}
|signature     = 
|height        = 1.75 m<ref name="tuttocalciatori"/>
|website       = 
|footnotes     = 
|module        = 
{{Infobox football biography
|embed          = yes
|header-color   = lavender
|position       = {{flatlist|
* [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
* [[Attacking midfielder]]<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/>
}}
| years1         = 1959–1960
| clubs1         = [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]]<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/>
| caps1          = 26
| goals1         = 6
| years2         = 1960–1979
| clubs2         = [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]]<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/>
| caps2          = 501
| goals2         = 122
| totalcaps      = 527
| totalgoals     = 128
| nationalyears1 = 1962–1974
| nationalteam1  = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]<ref name="FIGC Profilo"/><ref name="nftstat">{{NFT player|id=17424|name=Gianni Rivera}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1  = 60
| nationalgoals1 = 14
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|ITA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[UEFA Euro 1968|1968 Italy]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 Mexico]]|}}
}}}}

'''Giovanni''' "'''Gianni'''" '''Rivera''' ({{IPA|it|ˈdʒanni riˈvɛːra}}; born 18 August 1943) is an Italian politician and former [[association football|footballer]] who played as an [[attacking midfielder]].

Dubbed Italy's "Golden Boy" by the media, he played the majority of his club career with Italian side [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]], after beginning his career with hometown club [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]] in 1959. After joining Milan in 1960, he enjoyed a highly successful career in [[Football in Italy|domestic]] and [[UEFA club competitions|European football]], winning three [[Serie A]] titles and two [[European Cup]]s, among several other trophies, and also serving as the team's [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for twelve seasons.

At international level, Rivera represented [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]] 60 times between 1962 and 1974, scoring 14 goals, and took part at four [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]] ([[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], and [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]). Rivera is widely remembered for scoring the decisive goal in Italy's 4–3 extra-time win over [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]] in the [[Game of the Century (football)|semi-final]] of the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]], leading the team to [[1970 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], only to suffer a 4–1 defeat against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], however. Rivera was also a member of the first Italian side ever to win the [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Football Championship]] in [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]], on home soil, and represented Italy at the [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Summer Olympics]] in Rome, helping the team to a fourth-place finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/26110 |title=Gianni Rivera |work=Olympedia |access-date=10 December 2021}}</ref>

Rivera was an elegant, efficient, and creative offensive [[playmaker]], with an eye for goal, who possessed excellent vision and technical ability.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera">{{cite web|url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2011/10/legend-of-calcio-gianni-rivera/|title=Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera|website=forzaitalianfootball.com|date=14 October 2011|accessdate=2 November 2014}}</ref> Regarded as one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/azzurri/2010/08/04-123207/Baggio,+Sacchi+e+Rivera%3A+Figc+ufficializza+le+nomine|title=Baggio, Sacchi e Rivera Figc ufficializza le nomine|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=4 August 2010|accessdate=26 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182525/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio/azzurri/2010/08/04-123207/Baggio,+Sacchi+e+Rivera%3A+Figc+ufficializza+le+nomine|archivedate=23 September 2015}}</ref> and by some as Italy's greatest player ever,<ref name="IFFHS' Players and Keepers of the Century">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-country-complete.html|title=IFFHS' Players and Keepers of the Century for many countries|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|author1=Marcelo Leme de Arruda|date=21 January 2000|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Rivera: è il miglior calciatore italiano di tutti i tempi">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/14-08-2015/gazzetta-sport-vota-rivera-miglior-calciatore-italiano-tutti-tempi-120947599361.shtml|title=La Gazzetta dello Sport vota Rivera: è il miglior calciatore italiano di tutti i tempi|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Manlio Gasparotto|date=15 August 2015|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="il bel centrattacco">{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/buona-lettura/2014/08/01/news/il_bel_centrattacco_che_pesava_troppo_il_calcio_dimenticato_bruno_nicol-90160322/|title=Nicolè, il bel centrattacco che pesava troppo: "Il calcio? Dimenticato"|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|date=31 March 2014|accessdate=6 March 2017}}</ref> he was awarded the [[Ballon d'Or]] in 1969, and placed 19th in [[IFFHS]]'s election for the World Player of the 20th Century.<ref name=IFFHS>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|title=IFFHS' Century Elections: World – Player of the Century |author1=Karel Stokkermans |date=30 January 2000 |accessdate=26 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303065744/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html |archivedate=3 March 2009}}</ref> In 2015, he became the first Italian footballer out of 100 athletes to be inducted into Italy's sports ''Walk of Fame''.<ref name="coni.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.coni.it/it/news/primo-piano/9832-inaugurata-la-walk-of-fame.html|title=Inaugurata la Walk of Fame: 100 targhe per celebrare le leggende dello sport italiano|publisher=Coni|language=it|date=7 May 2015|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> In 2004, [[Pelé]] chose Rivera as part of the [[FIFA 100]] greatest living footballers,<ref name="Pele">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|title=Pele's list of the greatest|work=BBC Sport|date=4 March 2004|accessdate=15 June 2013}}</ref> and he placed 35th in the [[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]].<ref name="UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/uefa-awards.html|title=The UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|author1=Erik Garin|author2=Rui Silva|date=21 December 2006|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref>

After retiring from football in 1979, Rivera became Milan's vice-president and later went into politics in [[1987 Italian general election|1987]]. In 2013, he was appointed as President of the educational youth sector for the Italy national team by the [[FIGC]], along with [[Roberto Baggio]] and [[Arrigo Sacchi]], under head coach [[Cesare Prandelli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/aug04s.html|publisher=Football Italia|accessdate=31 December 2013 |title=Serie a News - the biggest Italian football news site }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/30081/roberto-baggio%E2%80%99s-ignored-vision |title=Roberto Baggio's ignored vision |publisher=Football Italia |author1=David Swan |date=29 January 2013 |accessdate=19 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.figc.it/en/204/35859/2013/04/News.shtml |title=Prandelli: "we have to work on playing intensity for european competitions" |publisher=FIGC |date=15 April 2013 |accessdate=19 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919094556/http://www.figc.it/en/204/35859/2013/04/News.shtml |archivedate=19 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Athletlic The Soccer 100<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6783439/2025/11/18/soccer-100-athletic-harper-collins-released/</ref> listed him at 68th greatest player ever. Following the death of [[Denis Law]] in January 2025, Rivera is currently the oldest living recipient of the Ballon D'Or.

==Early life==
Rivera was born in [[Alessandria]], [[Piedmont]], to Edera and Teresio; his father was a railway worker. Gianni began playing football with local side ASD Don Bosco, where he was scouted by former Milan midfielder [[Franco Pedroni]], who was the assistant coach at Alessandria at the time, prompting Rivera to join the local Serie A side at the age of 13.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=44571/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009162757/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=44571/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2015|title=Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera|publisher=FIFA|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it">{{cite web|url=http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=RIVERA+Gianni|title=Gianni Rivera|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|accessdate=29 September 2014|archive-date=8 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008193733/http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=RIVERA+Gianni|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/gianni_rivera_golden_boy_1.html|title=Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|accessdate=29 September 2014|archive-date=3 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403152512/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/gianni_rivera_golden_boy_1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera">{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/rubriche/la-storia/2013/08/18/news/rivera_compie_70_anni-64930184/|title=Il calcio al tempo di Rivera ragazzo d'oro dell'Italia felice|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Gianni Mura|date=18 August 2013|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>

==Club career==

===1959–1962: Debut with Alessandria, early years with AC Milan and first ''scudetto''===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=left|quote="He's an elegant young player with a remarkable touch."
 |source =— [[Giuseppe Meazza]] comments on Rivera after watching him play with Milan for the first time.<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/>}}
Nicknamed ''l'Abatino'', and ''the Golden Boy'' of Italian football throughout his career,<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera, il golden boy del calcio italiano">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.it/sport/70-anni-di-gianni-rivera-golden-boy-del-calcio-italiano/|title=Gianni Rivera, il "golden boy" del calcio italiano|work=Panorama|date=14 August 2013|language=it|access-date=1 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="Abatino">{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/brera_rivera.html|title=Gianni Brera: "Rivera, rendimi il mio Abatino…"|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|author1=Gianni Brera|date=19 February 2016|access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref> Rivera was the product of his hometown club's youth football academy; he joined the first team in 1958 and made his debut in [[Serie A]] for the [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]] senior side against [[Internazionale Milano F.C.|Internazionale]] on 2 June 1959 at the age of only fifteen years, nine months and fifteen days, in a 1–1 draw; later that year, he scored his first Serie A goal in a 2–2 home draw with [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] on 25 October. He is the [[Football records in Italy#Appearances|third youngest player in history]] to debut in Serie A, behind only [[Amedeo Amadei]] and [[Pietro Pellegri]],<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="record">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/genoa/story/3025449/genoas-pietro-pellegri-makes-debut-aged-15-equals-serie-a-record|title=Genoa's Pietro Pellegri makes debut aged 15, equals Serie A record|publisher=ESPN FC|author1=Ben Gladwell|date=23 December 2016|access-date=23 December 2016}}</ref> and the second youngest goalscorer in Serie A, behind only Amadei.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/> A year later, he was bought by [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] on a co-ownership deal, as an eventual replacement for the club's captain [[Juan Alberto Schiaffino|Juan Schiaffino]] in the [[Playmaker|playmaking role]]; although the club's officials were concerned about Rivera's diminutive physique during his trial, Schiaffino insisted that the talented youngster be offered a contract, and later served as a mentor to the young attacking midfielder.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/> Rivera spent his [[1959–60 Serie A|first season]] at the club back on a year-long loan with Alessandria; during the season, he scored a goal in a 1–1 draw with Milan on 7 February 1960, and played 26 matches in total, in which he scored 6 goals, also earning the nickname ''Il Signorino'' (the little gentleman).<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Abatino"/><ref name="RIVERA Gianni: Golden Boy per sempre1">{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/gianni_rivera_golden_boy_1.html|title=RIVERA Gianni: Golden Boy per sempre – 1|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=8 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220181651/http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/gianni_rivera_golden_boy_1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite Alessandria's relegation, Rivera's performances throughout the season impressed Milan, who later that year signed the youngster outright from Alessandria for another 65 million Lire, making his total transfer fee at the time a notable sum of 130 million Lire; the transfer fee paid by Milan to Alessandria also included the sale of [[Giancarlo Migliavacca]], and [[Sergio Bettini]] on loan.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2016/01/26/edizioni/alessandria/rivera-il-simbolo-amato-e-odiato-che-divide-la-citt-l1rRYEqwhKcOyvCW0YbIhP/pagina.html|title=Rivera, il simbolo amato e odiato che divide la città|work=La Stampa|language=it|author1=Piero Bottino|date=26 January 2016|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="museogrigio">{{cite web|url=http://www.museogrigio.it/storico/calciatori_dett.php?id=939|title=Rivera, Gianni|publisher=MuseoGrigio.it|language=it|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162450/http://www.museogrigio.it/storico/calciatori_dett.php?id=939|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rivera's final appearance with Alessandria came on 19 June 1960, in a 2–0 home defeat against [[FC La Chaux-de-Fonds]] in the first-ever edition of the [[Coppa delle Alpi]].<ref name="museogrigio"/>
[[File:Schiaffino e Rivera.jpg|thumb|[[Juan Alberto Schiaffino|Juan Schiaffino]] and Rivera in 1960.]]

Rivera made his Milan debut on 18 September 1960, in a 3–5 away win over his former club Alessandria in the [[Coppa Italia]], under manager [[Giuseppe Viani]], who later gave Rivera his famed nickname ''the Golden Boy''.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/><ref name="Abatino"/> Rivera's Milan league debut came in a 3–0 home win against [[Calcio Catania|Catania]] on 25 September,<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/> and he later also appeared in a 5–1 win over [[Bologna F.C. 1909|Bologna]] on 9 October 1960;<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/> he scored his first goal with Milan on 6 November, the match-winning goal in a 4–3 away win over [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], at the age of seventeen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2015/11/21/news/gianni_rivera_a_17_anni_segnai_il_gol_del_4-3_alla_juve_era_il_mio_destino_-127857030/|title=Gianni Rivera: "A 17 anni segnai il gol del 4–3 alla Juve: era il mio destino"|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=FRANCESCO SAVERIO INTORCIA|date=21 November 2015|access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref> During his [[1960–61 Serie A|first season]] with Milan, he played alongside several legendary Milan players, such as [[Cesare Maldini]], [[Giovanni Trapattoni]], [[Dino Sani]], [[Fabio Cudicini]], and [[José Altafini]], among others, immediately breaking into the starting line-up, and being handed the number 10 shirt, as Milan finished the league season in second place.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera">{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Gianni-Rivera|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera|publisher=A.C.Milan.com|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> After initially struggling to gain playing time under new manager [[Nereo Rocco]] during the [[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62 season]], his second at the club, also being linked with loans to [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]] and [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], Rivera won his way back into the starting line-up and played a decisive role as he won his first ''scudetto'' with Milan, scoring 10 goals in the league; in the title deciding match on 8 April 1962 against [[Torino F.C.|Torino]], Rivera scored in a 4–2 win, as Milan won the title with two matches to spare. Throughout his career, Rivera formed an important relationship with the legendary manager and [[catenaccio]] mastermind; he played a key role in the club's successes under Rocco, who subsequently built a hard-working, winning team around Rivera that complemented the midfielder's creative playing style.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="RIVERA Gianni: Golden Boy per sempre2">{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/gianni_rivera_golden_boy_1.html/2|title=RIVERA Gianni: Golden Boy per sempre – 2|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=8 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220182150/http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/gianni_rivera_golden_boy_1.html/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to his performances throughout the season, on 13 May 1962, aged just eighteen, Rivera played his first competitive match for the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]] at that year's [[Football World Cup 1962|World Cup]] in Chile.<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name=legacy/> A precocious talent, despite his young age, Rivera soon became known for his ability to orchestrate Milan's attacking moves, as well as his leadership within the team, and he served as the club's [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for 12 of his 19 seasons with Milan after being handed the armband in 1966, at the age of 23.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera, il golden boy del calcio italiano"/><ref name="treccani">{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/gianni-rivera_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)/|title=RIVERA, Gianni|publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002)|language=it|access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>

===1962–1970: International successes with AC Milan===
[[File:Finale Europa Cup II AC Milan tegen HSV Hamburg 2-0. Aanvoerder Gianni Rivera me, Bestanddeelnr 921-3773.jpg|thumb|left|Rivera lifting the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|Cup Winners' Cup]] in [[1968 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1968]].]]

Rivera's 1962 ''scudetto'' victory with Milan under Nereo Rocco enabled the team to qualify for the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in [[1962–63 European Cup|1962]], and earned him a sixth-place finish in that year's ''[[1962 Ballon d'Or|Ballon d'Or]]''.<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/> Despite missing out on the Serie A title the following season, Rivera played a key role in helping Milan finally win their first ever European Cup title in 1963, at the age of twenty, defeating [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] 2–1 in the [[1963 European Cup Final|final]]. Rivera was in great form during the match, providing two notable assists for [[José Altafini]]'s goals; he finished the season in double figures once again with 11 goals for Milan in all competitions, while he made 40 appearances throughout the season for both club and country. Milan suffered a defeat in the [[1963 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]], however, in a playoff match against [[Santos FC|Santos]] following a 6–6 draw on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2013/m=11/news=king-less-santos-retain-throne-style-2224094.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906021359/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2013/m=11/news=king-less-santos-retain-throne-style-2224094.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2015|title=King-less Santos retain throne in style|publisher=FIFA|date=16 November 2013|access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref> For his performances, Rivera was awarded second place in the prestigious Ballon d'Or award that year, which was won by the Russian goalkeeper [[Lev Yashin]].<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/> With the departure of Nereo Rocco to Torino, Milan struggled to replicate the same level of success during the next few seasons, missing out on the league title to [[Derby della Madonnina|cross-city rivals]] [[Inter Milan|Inter]] in [[1964–65 Serie A|1965]]; despite the club's loss of form during this period, Rivera's performances continued to be decisive, as he managed ninth, seventh, and sixteenth placements respectively in the ''Ballon d'Or'' in 1964, 1965, and 1967, while he helped Milan win the [[Coppa Italia]] during the [[1966–67 Serie A|1966–67]] season, finishing the competition as top-scorer, with 7 goals.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Cento Milan">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1999/dicembre/15/Cento_Milan_successi_ga_0_9912154657.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|title=Cento Milan, 37 successi|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Andrea Masala|date=15 December 1999|access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Gianni Rivera (Milan AC) - Ballon d'Or 1969.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|Rivera lifting the [[Ballon d'Or]] in 1969.]]

In the [[1967–68 Serie A|1967–68 season]], Nereo Rocco returned to the club and rebuilt the team's offence around Rivera; as a result, Milan managed a double, as the team won both the ''Scudetto'', and the [[Cup Winners' Cup]] [[1968 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|final]], with a 2–0 win over [[Hamburger SV]] in the latter tournament. Rivera scored 11 goals in Serie A as Milan won the league title with a nine-point advantage over runners-up [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]; he also played for Italy that summer as they won the [[1968 European Football Championship|1968 European Championship]] on home soil, earning praise from journalist [[Gianni Brera]], who described him as the greatest Italian player post-[[World War II]].<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name=legacy/> Despite his performances and success throughout the season, Rivera missed out on the ''[[1968 Ballon d'Or|Ballon d'Or]]'' however, which was awarded to [[1967–68 European Cup|European Cup]] winner [[George Best]], with Rivera finishing in ninth place in the final rankings.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/> The next season saw Rivera and Milan emerge victorious in the [[1968–69 European Cup|European Cup]], winning the [[1969 European Cup Final|final]] over [[Johan Cruyff]]'s [[Ajax FC|Ajax]], a match which is regarded as one of Rivera's greatest, most dominant, and most virtuosic performances: playing in the [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|number 10 role]], Rivera captained Milan to a 4–1 victory at the [[Santiago Bernabeu stadium]] in Madrid, setting up two of [[Pierino Prati|Prati]]'s three goals in the final.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/> In addition to the European Cup that season, Rivera also won the [[1969 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]] in a physical encounter against [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]], scoring a goal in a 2–1 defeat in the second leg, after Milan had won the first leg 3–0; these successes finally earned him the ''Ballon d'Or'' in 1969, making him the first Italian-born player, and the second Italian player after [[Omar Sívori]], to win the award.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/>

===1970–1979: Later years with AC Milan===
In the 70s, Rivera's continued strong performances led Milan on to two more [[European Cup Winners' Cup|Cup Winners' Cup finals]], one in [[1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1973]] and another in [[1974 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1974]]; Rivera managed to win the 1973 final with Milan in a hard-fought 1–0 victory against [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds]],<ref name=legacy/> but the following year, Milan suffered a 2–0 defeat against [[1. FC Magdeburg|Magdeburg]] in the final of the tournament.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/> Rivera also suffered a 6–1 defeat on aggregate against [[Ajax F.C.|Ajax]] in the [[1973 European Super Cup|1973]] [[European Supercup]] final with Milan. During the early 70s, Rivera also won two consecutive [[Coppa Italia]] titles with the ''Rossoneri'', in [[1971–72 Coppa Italia|1972]], and [[1972–73 Serie A|1973]]; one of his most prominent performances in the Coppa Italia during the 70s was in the [[Coppa Italia|1970–71]] edition of the tournament, in which Milan finished in second place, largely due to Rivera's 7 goals in the competition, which earned him the title of top-scorer.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/> His decisive individual performances saw him place eighteenth in the [[1972 Ballon d'Or]], and eighth in the [[1973 Ballon d'Or]]. Despite these titles, Milan struggled to achieve similar success in Serie A during this period; in the [[1970–71 Serie A|1970–71]], [[1971–72 Serie A|1971–72]] and the [[1972–73 Serie A|1972–73]] seasons, Milan managed three consecutive second places in Serie A, also reaching the semi-finals of the [[1971–72 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] during the [[1971–72 Serie A|1971–72]] season.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/> Rivera missed most of the club's league matches during the 1971–72 season, as he was banned for a record nine matches after protesting a penalty awarded by the referee Michelotti in a match against [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]]. Rivera picked up a three-month suspension because of his statements against Italian referees, suggesting that they favoured Milan's rivals Inter and Juventus; coincidentally, the latter team won the Serie A title that season.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="treccani"/> Rivera finished the [[1972–73 Serie A|1972–73]] season as [[Capocannoniere|top-scorer]] in Serie A alongside [[Paolo Pulici]] and [[Giuseppe Savoldi]], with 17 goals in 28 league matches, and scored a personal best of 20 goals in all club competitions, as, despite winning both the Coppa Italia and the Cup Winners' Cup, Milan once again finished in second place in the league, narrowly missing out on the Serie A title to Juventus, after infamously losing out against [[Hellas Verona F.C.|Verona]] on the final matchday of the season.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/>
[[File:Benetti, Chiarugi, Rivera en Sabadini (1974).jpg|thumb|left|[[Romeo Benetti]], [[Luciano Chiarugi]], Rivera and [[Giuseppe Sabadini]] at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol]] in May 1974.]]

Following Rocco's second departure from the club in 1973, the club's management attempted to persuade Rivera to leave Milan, although Rivera ultimately chose to remain with the club.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="treccani"/> During this period, Milan also reached the [[Coppa Italia]] final during the [[1974–75 Serie A|1974–75]] season, and won another Coppa Italia title in the [[1976–77 Serie A|1976–77]] season.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/> Rivera won the last ''[[Serie A|scudetto]]'' of his playing career in his final season with the club, under manager [[Nils Liedholm]], at the age of 35; despite his own advancing age and physical decline, he still contributed to Milan's League title in [[1978–79 Serie A|1979]], the club's tenth overall, with 13 appearances and a goal, which earned ''The Devils'' a star on their jersey.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="treccani"/> His final career appearance came in a 1–1 away draw with [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] in the league, on 13 May; he officially announced his retirement on 10 June.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/> In total, Rivera played for Milan in 501 Serie A matches and scored 122 league goals, with a total of 164 goals in 658 appearances in all competitions for Milan. With 128 goals in 527 Serie A appearances across 20 seasons, he is the [[Football records in Italy#Appearances|11th most capped player in Serie A history]] and the highest-scoring midfielder in the league's history.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name=legacy/> With [[Football records and statistics in Italy#Most assists in Serie A|105 league assists, he is also the fourth-highest assist provider of all time in Serie A history]], behind only [[Francesco Totti]], Roberto Baggio, and [[Alessandro Del Piero]].<ref name="Serie A: record, primati, numeri e statistiche">{{cite news |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/2023/10/30-115838922/campionato_di_calcio_serie_a_record_primati_numeri_e_statistiche |title=Campionato di Calcio Serie A: record, primati, numeri e statistiche |work=Il Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=30 October 2023 |access-date=12 February 2024 }}</ref> In total, Rivera scored 170 goals in all club competitions in 684 appearances.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/>

==International career==

===Early years===
{{multiple image
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| footer = Rivera's [[Squad number (association football)|number 10]] Italy shirt, worn against [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] on 20 April 1968.
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Rivera was a part of the [[Italy national football team|Italy national side]] between 1962 and 1974. Rivera made his international debut with the [[Italy national under-21 football team|under-21 side]] on 9 March 1960, scoring 2 goals in a 4–1 pre-[[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|Olympic]] friendly win over [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Switzerland]], alongside [[Giacomo Bulgarelli]]. At the Summer Olympics in Rome, Rivera made his tournament debut in a 4–1 win against [[Taiwan national football team|Taiwan]], at the age of seventeen, and teamed up with Bulgarelli in midfield to help the Italians to a fourth-place finish under Viani, scoring three goals in five matches.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Abatino"/><ref name="treccani"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera FIFA Profile">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=44571/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825023316/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=44571/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2013|title=Gianni Rivera|publisher=FIFA|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Addio Bulgarelli">{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/09_febbraio_13/bulgarelli_morto_ddefdbf8-f9a7-11dd-b292-00144f02aabc.shtml|title=Addio Bulgarelli, bandiera del Bologna|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=13 February 2009|access-date=12 May 2016}}</ref>

With the Italian senior side, Rivera made his debut on 13 May 1962 in a 3–1 away win against [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]], at the age of eighteen. He took part at the [[1962 FIFA World Cup]] in Chile with the national team, and made both his first ever competitive and World Cup appearance for Italy at the tournament, in a 0–0 draw against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] on 31 May; this was his only appearance in the competition, however, as Italy disappointed and suffered a controversial first-round elimination.<ref name="Gianni Rivera FIFA Profile"/> Despite Rivera's creative talent, offensive capabilities, and technical skills, the celebrated Italian sports journalist [[Gianni Brera]] was critical of the youngster's performance, due to his lack of pace, physicality, and his poor defensive work-rate, nicknaming him ''l'Abatino'' (the little [[abbot]]), and also stating that the in-form [[Angelo Sormani]] should have played in his place.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Il calcio al tempo di Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera, il golden boy del calcio italiano"/><ref name="Abatino"/> Later that year, on his fourth international appearance, Rivera also scored his first goal for Italy on 2 December, at the age of 19 years and 206 days, in a 6–0 home win over [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]], in Italy's opening [[Uefa Euro 1964 qualifying|Euro 1964 qualifying match]], making him Italy's second-youngest goalscorer ever at the time, behind only [[Bruno Nicolè]], and the youngest player ever to score a goal for Italy in a competitive match; he later also added a second goal during the match, making him the youngest player ever to score a brace for Italy in a competitive match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vivoazzurro.it/news/2-dicembre-1962-il-primo-gol-azzurro-di-gianni-rivera/|title=2 dicembre 1962: il primo gol azzurro di Gianni Rivera|publisher=VivoAzzurro.it|language=it|date=2 December 2015|access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://it.eurosport.com/calcio/qualificazioni-euro-2020/2020/italia-moise-kean-nella-storia-e-il-secondo-piu-giovane-a-segnare-in-nazionale_sto7199511/story.shtml |title=Italia, Moise Kean nella storia: è il secondo più giovane di sempre a segnare in Nazionale |publisher=eurosport.com |language=it |author1=Luca Stamerra |date=23 March 2019 |access-date=4 April 2019 }}</ref>

Rivera was later also included in Italy's squad for the [[1966 FIFA World Cup]] in England; during the tournament, Rivera was critical of [[Edmondo Fabbri]]'s defensive-minded system, and the Italians suffered another first-round elimination following an unexpected defeat to [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]] in their final group match. Despite the early elimination, Brera singled out Rivera as the only Italian player to have put in a strong performance on this occasion.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Abatino"/><ref name="RIVERA Gianni: Golden Boy per sempre2"/> Following two disappointing tournaments with Italy, Rivera was excluded from the Italian squad under manager [[Helenio Herrera]], who mainly fielded players from his ''[[Grande Inter]]'' side; it was only at the insistence of Brera that Rivera was brought back into the Italian side.<ref name="Abatino"/><ref name="Brera mi riportò in Nazionale">{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/16_novembre_26/rivera-da-ragazzo-ero-juventino-brera-mi-riporto-nazionale-0dad8e1a-b3f6-11e6-9bbf-23f96afff2f8.shtml|title=Rivera: "Da ragazzo ero juventino e Brera mi riportò in Nazionale"|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author1=Aldo Cazzullo|date=26 November 2016|access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref> Under manager [[Ferruccio Valcareggi]], Rivera was later part of the victorious Italian side that won their first European Championship in [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]], on home soil; however, despite picking up a winner's medal in the tournament, Rivera missed the [[UEFA Euro 1968 Final|final]] against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]], after sustaining an injury at the beginning of the semi-final match against [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]], which ended in a 0–0 draw; Italy subsequently advanced to the final on a coin toss. Despite playing the entire game with a muscle strain, Rivera put in a strong performance during the semi-final.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name=legacy/><ref name="Brera mi riportò in Nazionale"/>

===1970 World Cup===
[[File:Italy v Luxembourg (Genoa, 1973) - Mazzola and Rivera.jpg|thumb|left|Rivera playing for [[Italy national football team|Italy]] alongside [[Sandro Mazzola]]; the two players would be involved in manager [[Ferruccio Valcareggi]]'s infamous "Staffetta" policy at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]].]]
Rivera subsequently played with the ''Squadra Azzurra'' (Italy national team) in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]] hosted by Mexico. At the prime of his career, much was expected of him throughout the tournament; after a slow start, his excellent form in the knock-out stages saw him become Italy's star player throughout the competition, as they reached the final, only to lose out 4–1 to a [[Pelé]]-led [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] side.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/> Prior to the tournament, the Italian team was thrown into turmoil following [[Pietro Anastasi]]'s last-minute injury, which ruled the striker out of the competition; [[Roberto Boninsegna]] and [[Pierino Prati]] were called up in his place, while [[Giovanni Lodetti]], who was Rivera's midfield partner and defensive foil at Milan, was dropped from the team; as a result, Rivera was at the centre of controversy when he accused the Italy national team supervisor Walter Mandelli of leading a media campaign against him, and of also wanting to exclude him from the team, which only put his place on the team in further jeopardy.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Nazionale, Rivera, rivalità e gol Italia-Germania 4-3 è la partita del secolo">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/30-04-2014/nazionale-rivera-rivalita-gol-italia-germania-4-3-partita-secolo-80550965203.shtml|title=Nazionale, Rivera, rivalità e gol Italia-Germania 4–3 è la partita del secolo|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Sebastiano Vernazza|date=30 April 2014|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.us/story/287566/tales-from-the-rivera-bank|title=Tales from the Rivera bank|publisher=ESPN FC|author1=Roberto Gotta|date=4 January 2004|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="staffette">{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/mondiali_1970_de_felice.html|title=1970: Quando perdemmo le… staffette|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|author1=Gianni De Felice|date=19 December 2015|access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref> Furthermore, the Italian coach at the 1970 World Cup Finals, Ferruccio Valcareggi, believed that Rivera and his fellow right-sided playmaker teammate [[Sandro Mazzola]] could not play together on the same field, as they played in [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|similar positions]] for [[Derby della Madonnina|rival clubs]]. Although Rivera was arguably the more famous of the two stars at the time, as the reigning European Footballer of the Year, Valcareggi elected to start Mazzola, due to his pace, stamina, superior work rate, and stronger physical and athletic attributes, which he deemed more important in the tournament, and Rivera missed out on Italy's opening two group matches, with his absence being blamed on "stomach troubles"; he made his first appearance of the tournament in Italy's final group match, a 0–0 draw against [[Israel national football team|Israel]] on 11 June, coming on for [[Angelo Domenghini]]. Due to Rivera's frequent arguments with the Italian coaching staff over his limited playing time, his mentor Rocco had to be flown in to prevent him from leaving the squad.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Brera mi riportò in Nazionale"/><ref name="staffette"/><ref name="Game of the Century">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=9/news=joy-and-pain-as-rivera-settles-game-of-the-century-2833346.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915143121/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=9/news=joy-and-pain-as-rivera-settles-game-of-the-century-2833346.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2016|title=Joy and pain as Rivera settles Game of the Century|publisher=FIFA|date=15 September 2016|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="VIGILIA MUNDIAL">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1986/05/30/vigilia-mundial-pensando-al-70.html|title=VIGILIA MUNDIAL PENSANDO AL '70|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=GIANNI BRERA|date=30 May 1986|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

By the second round of the tournament, however, the Italian offence failed to sparkle. Although Rivera's playing style involved less running, physicality, tactical discipline, and work off the ball than Mazzola's, and made Italy less compact and more vulnerable defensively, it also allowed his team to control possession in midfield, due to Rivera's ability to dictate the play with his passing moves, provide accurate long passes, and create more chances for the team's strikers. When Mazzola came down with a stomach flu, and struggled to regain full match fitness for the knock-out round, Valcareggi therefore devised a controversial solution to play both players and get the best out of their abilities: the quicker and more hard-working Mazzola would start in the first half, while Rivera would come on at halftime, when the opposing teams would begin to tire, and the tempo of the game had slowed down, giving him more time to orchestrate goal scoring opportunities; this strategy was later dubbed the "staffetta" ([[Relay race|relay]]).<ref name="VIGILIA MUNDIAL"/><ref name="Esce Mazzola, entra Rivera">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/11/03/esce-mazzola-entra-rivera-cosi-la-staffetta.html|title=Esce Mazzola, entra Rivera così la staffetta ha fatto storia|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=MAURIZIO CROSETTI|date=3 November 2005|access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="70 anni di Rivera">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.it/sport/calcio/compleanno-gianni-rivera/|title=70 anni di Rivera: gli auguri di Mazzola|work=Panorama|language=it|date=14 August 2013|access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref> With this strategy, Rivera helped Italy defeat the hosts [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] 4–1 in the quarterfinal on 14 June, scoring a goal, and also setting up both of [[Luigi Riva]]'s goals, forming a notable offensive partnership with the [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]] [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]] throughout the knock-out stages of the tournament.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Nazionale, Rivera, rivalità e gol Italia-Germania 4-3 è la partita del secolo"/><ref name="staffette"/><ref name="Game of the Century"/><ref name="VIGILIA MUNDIAL"/><ref name="bow">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/1970-world-cup-pele-takes-his-final-bow-1.804446|title=1970 World Cup: Pele takes his final bow|publisher=CBC Sports|author1=John F. Molinaro|date=21 November 2009|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/brera-italia-1970-1982.html|title=Gianni Brera: Italia 1970 vs Italia 1982|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|author1=Gianni Brera|date=4 March 1988|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/03/04/eppure-valcareggi-aveva-ragione.html|title=EPPURE VALCAREGGI AVEVA RAGIONE...|publisher=La Repubblica|author1=Gianni Rivera|language=it|date=4 March 1988|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="I told myself, there's no other alternative for me but to get the ball, take it past everyone and score."
 |source =— Rivera on his mental state following his error which led to [[Germany national football team|West Germany]]'s temporary equaliser in extra-time of the [[Italy v West Germany (1970 FIFA World Cup)|1970 World Cup semi-final]], and ahead of his match-winning goal one minute later.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/>}}
In the semi-final against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], at the [[Estadio Azteca]] on 17 June, Rivera played a major role in one of the most entertaining games in World Cup history, a match which was later dubbed [[Italy v West Germany (1970 FIFA World Cup)|''The Game of the Century'']]. Following a 1–1 draw after regulation time, Rivera's long passes led to [[Tarcisio Burgnich]]'s and Luigi Riva's goals in extra-time, although he was later also at fault for Germany's equaliser; while defending against a German set-piece, Rivera briefly stepped away from the post, leaving it unmarked, and allowing [[Gerd Müller]] to score his second goal and tie the match at 3–3 in the 110th minute, which famously led Italy's temperamental goalkeeper [[Enrico Albertosi]] to berate Rivera for the error. A minute later, however, Rivera started an attacking play from the ensuing kick-off, a move which he eventually proceeded to finish off himself, scoring Italy's match-winning goal from Roberto Boninsegna's low cross to give Italy a 4–3 victory, after advancing into the penalty area unmarked, and sending German goalkeeper [[Sepp Maier]] the wrong way with his first-time shot.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="Nazionale, Rivera, rivalità e gol Italia-Germania 4-3 è la partita del secolo"/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="staffette"/><ref name="Game of the Century"/><ref name="bow"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/storie-che-emozionano/17-06-2015/italia-germania-4-3-brutta-partita-che-fece-storia-120203571793.shtml|title=Italia-Germania 4–3: la brutta partita che fece la storia|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Diego Mariottini|date=17 June 2015|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=33%|align=left|quote="I was worried that Rivera would come on, I thought that with Rivera Italy would be more dangerous."
 |source =— [[Pelé]] on Rivera's limited playing time in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup Final]].<ref name="Nazionale, Rivera, rivalità e gol Italia-Germania 4-3 è la partita del secolo"/>}}
However, despite Rivera being the hero of Italy's past two matches, in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup Final|final]] against Brazil, Valcareggi did not use Rivera until there were only six minutes left in the game when he came on for Boninsegna with Italy trailing 3–1. Although the two creative Italian stars Rivera and Mazzola were finally able to play alongside each other, it was too late to overturn the result, and Brazil won the match 4–1 to capture the title. Valcareggi later justified his decision to neither start Rivera nor bring him on at half time, when the score was tied at 1–1, stating that several players in the starting line-up were in poor physical condition prior to the final, and that he was concerned that they would need to be substituted during the match, and as a result, waited longer than usual before bringing on Rivera.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="Nazionale, Rivera, rivalità e gol Italia-Germania 4-3 è la partita del secolo"/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="staffette"/><ref name="Game of the Century"/><ref name="6-minuti">{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/6_minuti_rivera.html|title=Messico 70 e quei 6 minuti che sconvolsero l'Italia|date=17 November 2015|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> Despite reaching the final, the Italian team and Valcareggi endured much criticism from the Italian public and media upon their return to Italy, in particular due to the "staffetta" policy, and Rivera's limited playing time in the heavy final defeat; Rivera was largely exempt from the criticism, however, due to his decisive performances throughout the tournament.<ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="staffette"/><ref name="6-minuti"/> For his performances throughout the calendar year, Rivera placed tenth in the [[1970 Ballon d'Or]].

===Later years===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="Rivera, Rivera, Rivera, Rivera."
 |source =— [[England national football team|England]] manager [[Alf Ramsey]]'s response when asked to name the four strongest Italian players following Italy's 1–0 win over England in a friendly match at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] on 14 November 1973.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Winning at All Costs-p150">{{cite book|last1=Foot|first1=John|title=Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer|date=2007|publisher=Nation Books|location=New York|isbn=978-1568586526|page=150|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NBufCsXpkVkC&q=Rivera%2C+Rivera%2C+Rivera+Alf+Ramsey&pg=PA150}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/inghilterra-italia-0-1_1973.html|title=Un tocco di Capello e l'Inghilterra è servita|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|date=30 September 2016|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Anche il Briamasco nell’antologia">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.gelocal.it/trentinocorrierealpi/archivio/trentinocorrierealpi/2016/03/14/trento-anche-il-briamasco-nell-antologia-53.html?refresh_ce|title=Anche il Briamasco nell'antologia|publisher=Il Trentino|language=it|date=14 March 2016|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/624/2011/11/14-204411/1973,+Mitico+Capello-gol%3A+l%27Italia+vince+in+Inghilterra|title=1973, Mitico Capello-gol: l'Italia vince in Inghilterra|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|author1=Francesca Fanelli|language=it|date=14 November 2011|access-date=4 December 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
Rivera also played in the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]], wearing the number 10 shirt for Italy, and finally appearing alongside Mazzola, who was deployed on the wing. He scored a goal in the team's opening group stage against [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/29/25-stunning-world-cup-moments-haiti-italy-1974|title=World Cup: 25 stunning moments ... No12: Haiti stun Dino Zoff's Italy|work=The Guardian|author1=Simon Burnton|date=29 April 2014|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> but he did not appear in the decisive final group match, in which the ageing Italians were knocked out of the tournament by [[Poland national football team|Poland]] following a 2–1 loss. The 1974 World Cup elimination marked the end of Rivera's international career; his last appearance with Italy came in the team's second group fixture, a 1–1 draw against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], on 19 June. In total, he played in 60 games for Italy, scoring 14 goals in the process; he is the [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|second highest-scoring midfielder for Italy]] post-[[World War II]], behind only [[Daniele De Rossi]], and the third-highest scoring midfielder for Italy overall, behind [[Adolfo Baloncieri]] and De Rossi.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="FIGC Profilo">{{cite web|url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=46252&squadraId=12|title=Convocazioni e presenze in campo: Gianni Rivera|website=figc.it|publisher=FIGC|language=it|access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/euro-2016/2014/11/14-551186/nazionale_de_rossi_raggiunge_le_100_presenze/|title=Nazionale, De Rossi raggiunge le 100 presenze|trans-title=National team, De Rossi reaches 100 appearances|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=1 November 2014|access-date=21 July 2016}}</ref> Rivera participated in four World Cups with Italy, making nine appearances in total and scoring three goals.<ref name="100 top World Cup footballers">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/27/100-top-world-cup-footballers-100-61|title=100 top World Cup footballers: No100 to No61|work=The Guardian|author1=Jonathan Wilson|date=27 May 2014|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref> He captained the national side on four occasions.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/>

==Retirement==

===Milan vice-president===
After retirement, Rivera became a vice-president at Milan for seven seasons. When [[Silvio Berlusconi]] bought the club in 1986, he resigned from his position and entered politics.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/>

===Political career===
Rivera started his career in politics in 1986, becoming a member of the [[Italian Parliament]] in 1987 with the [[Christian Democracy (Italy)|Christian Democracy]] party. He was re-elected in 1992, in 1994 under the [[Segni Pact]], and in 1996 under the [[The Olive Tree (political coalition)|Uniti nell'Ulivo]] coalition. He served as an under-secretary for defense under [[Romano Prodi]]'s government and later as a [[Non-Inscrits|non-inscrit]] [[Members of the European Parliament|Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP).<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/>

===FIGC President===
In 2013 Rivera was appointed by the [[Italian Football Federation]] (FIGC) as President of the Technical Sector (''settore tecnico''), which oversees the training and qualification of technical staff employed by the FIGC and is headquartered at the [[Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano|Coverciano]] in [[Florence]].<ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.settoretecnico.figc.it/news.aspx?c=48&sc=&ssc=&n=2841|title=GIANNI RIVERA ALLA GUIDA DEL SETTORE TECNICO, LUCA PANCALLI AL SETTORE GIOVANILE E SCOLASTICO|publisher=[[FIGC]]|language=it|date=28 August 2013}}</ref>

==Player profile==
===Style of play===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=left|quote="Yes, he doesn't run a lot, but if I want good football, creativity, the art of turning around a situation from the first to the ninetieth minute, only Rivera can give me all of this with his flashes. I wouldn't want to exaggerate, because in the end it's only football, but Rivera in all of this is a genius."
 |source =— [[Nereo Rocco]] on Rivera.<ref name="RIVERA Gianni: Golden Boy per sempre1"/>}}

Rivera was a graceful, creative, technically gifted, and efficient [[Playmaker#Advanced playmakers|offensive midfield]] [[playmaker]], who possessed exceptional footballing intelligence, and class.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/46195/italys-all-time-no-10s|title=Italy's All-Time No 10s|publisher=Football Italia|author1=Dave Taylor|date=9 March 2014|access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref> Rivera was capable of playing anywhere in [[Midfielder|midfield]] or along the [[Forward (association football)|front line]], but he was usually used in a free role, either as a [[Midfielder#Deep-lying playmaker (Strolling 10)|deep-lying playmaker]] in [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfield]], as an offensive–minded central midfielder (known as the "[[Midfielder#Mezzala|mezzala]]" role, in Italian), or most frequently as a [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|classic number 10]] behind the forward; he was also deployed as a [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|deep-lying or inside forward]] on occasion, and at the beginning of his career, he was even occasionally used in a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|central role]] as a main [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]], while at Alessandria, and as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]] on either flank, with the Italian Olympic side, in particular on the right side of the pitch.<ref name="magliarossonera.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Rivera.html|title=Gianni Rivera: Golden Boy|publisher=Maglia Rossonera.it|language=it|access-date=6 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123035345/http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Rivera.html|archive-date=23 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="tuttocalciatori"/><ref name="Abatino"/><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s"/><ref name="IL BAGGIO PERDUTO">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1991/10/29/il-baggio-perduto.html|title=IL BAGGIO PERDUTO|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=MAURIZIO CROSETTI|date=29 October 1991|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="pianetamilan">{{cite web |url=https://www.pianetamilan.it/campioni-rossoneri-rivera/ |title=GIANNI RIVERA |publisher=Pianeta Milan |language=it |last1=Maggioni |first1=Enrico |access-date=23 January 2020 }}</ref> Although he was not known for his defensive abilities, and lacked both notable stamina and pace, as well as significant physical and athletic attributes due to his small stature and slender build,<ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="IL BAGGIO PERDUTO"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/238082-ac-milan-and-italian-golden-boy-gianni-rivera|title=AC Milan and Italian Golden Boy: Gianni Rivera|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref> he was an extremely talented right-footed player, who was renowned for his vision, tactical intelligence, and his skilful yet effective style of play, despite his poor defensive work-rate.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="IL BAGGIO PERDUTO"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/09/11/gianni-rivera-the-greatest-playmaker-in-ac-milan-history/ |title=Gianni Rivera: the greatest playmaker in AC Milan history |publisher=thesefootballtimes.co |author1=Edd Norval |date=11 September 2018 |access-date=28 March 2019 }}</ref>
[[File:Gianni Rivera in training with US Alessandria.jpg|thumb|A young Rivera in training with Alessandria, {{circa}} late 1950s and early 1960s.]]

Rivera was highly regarded for his outstanding ball control, [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills, and excellent technique, as well as his quick feet, acceleration over short distances, agility, and balance on the ball, which allowed him to change direction quickly, and dribble past players with ease. Despite his notable skill, technical ability, and elegance on the ball, Rivera would often avoid challenging defenders gratuitously in one on one situations, making unnecessary flashy moves or plays, or undertaking individual dribbling runs, in particular in his later career, unless he deemed them necessary; as such, he was known to be an efficient player, who preferred instead to create space and chances for his team through his precise passing game and offensive movement.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Abatino"/><ref name=legacy/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera to receive UEFA President's Award"/><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s"/><ref name="pianetamilan"/> Indeed, above all, Rivera was known for his excellent vision, ability to interpret the game, and his sublime range of [[Passing (association football)|passing]], which allowed him to control the game and dictate the tempo his team's play in midfield with short exchanges, spread long passes across the pitch, or even play the ball first time, and also made him an excellent [[Assist (soccer)|assist]] provider from any position on the field, with either foot;<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Abatino"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/rivera-premiato-da-platini-292715|title=Rivera: Premiato da Platini|date=3 July 2012 |publisher=Calcio Mercato.com|language=it|access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1634018-25-most-skilled-passers-in-world-football-history#slide24 |title=25 Most Skilled Passers in World Football History |publisher=Bleacher Report |author1=Max Towle |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=28 March 2019 }}</ref> in 2011, former playmaker and UEFA president [[Michel Platini]] described Rivera as one of the greatest passers in the history of the sport.<ref name="Gianni Rivera to receive UEFA President's Award"/>

{{Quote box|width=33%|align=left|quote="You watch footage from those years now and everyone seems slower than now, Rivera perhaps slower still and keeping the ball too much, but his forte was in spraying inspired passes around and always going forward, with a more than average eye for goal for a midfielder..."
 |source =— [[ESPN]] columnist Roberto Gotta on Rivera's playing style.<ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/>}}
Despite being primarily a creative midfielder, and a team player, who preferred assisting teammates over scoring goals himself, Rivera was also known for his ability to make attacking runs and for his keen eye for goal;<ref name=legacy/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/> an accurate finisher from both inside and outside the area, he is the highest-scoring midfielder in Serie A history, and the third highest-scoring midfielder in the history of the Italy national team.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name=legacy>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7dcacd702f-3b28b3a68f65-1000--award-winner-rivera-happy-with-his-legacy/|title=Award winner Rivera happy with his legacy|date=24 March 2012|publisher=UEFA|access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Greatest Ever Footballers|date=2014|publisher=Headline Publishing Group|location=London|isbn=978-1-4722-2705-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EtjiBAAAQBAJ&q=rivera&pg=PA2055}}</ref> He was also an accurate [[Direct free kick|set piece]] and [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty-kick]] taker.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.90min.com/it/posts/369377-i-10-migliori-rigoristi-della-storia-della-serie-a|title=I 10 migliori rigoristi della storia della Serie A|access-date=6 January 2015|date=4 September 2013|archive-date=6 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106184157/http://www.90min.com/it/posts/369377-i-10-migliori-rigoristi-della-storia-della-serie-a|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rivera is widely considered to be one of the greatest Italian footballers and one of the most talented advanced playmakers of all time, as well as one of the best players of his generation.<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera: La leggenda del Golden Boy"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera, il golden boy del calcio italiano"/><ref name="treccani"/> In addition to his footballing ability, Rivera was also highly regarded throughout his career for his composure under pressure, his correct behaviour on the pitch, longevity, and his vocal leadership, although his outspoken personality also led him to be involved in several controversial clashes with managers, officials, and the media.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name=legacy/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/> Indeed, he was one of the first players to openly speak out in criticism of journalists and directors.<ref name="tuttocalciatori">{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/index.php?mod=chp&par=92|title=Rivera, Gianni|publisher=TuttoCalciatori|language=it|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>

===Reception and legacy===
{{Quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="[Rivera] was ... one of the greatest passers of all time who was known for his impeccable dribbling and distribution. In addition, Gianni Rivera was a true gentleman, both on and off the field of play, and he has remained so to this day."
 |source =— [[Michel Platini]] speaking on Rivera being honoured with the [[UEFA President's Award]] in 2011.<ref name="Gianni Rivera to receive UEFA President's Award">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01fb-0f87f959158d-8e173610784c-1000--gianni-rivera-to-receive-uefa-president-s-award/|title=Gianni Rivera to receive UEFA President's Award|publisher=UEFA|date=6 March 2012|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>}}

Regarded as one of Italy's and Milan's greatest ever footballers, one of the best players of his generation, one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and one of the most talented advanced playmakers of all time,<ref name="Legend of Calcio: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Gianni Rivera, il golden boy del calcio italiano"/><ref name=legacy/><ref name="treccani"/><ref name="Tales from the Rivera bank"/><ref name="Italy's All-Time No 10s"/><ref name="50 Greatest Midfielders in the History of World Football"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.sky.it/calcio-estero/fotogallery/2010/10/10/i_grandi_numeri_dieci_del_calcio.html#5|title=Dalla A alla Zico, i grandi numeri 10 del calcio internazionale|publisher=Sport.Sky.it|language=it|date=10 October 2010|access-date=23 July 2017|archive-date=2 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802093619/https://sport.sky.it/calcio-estero/fotogallery/2010/10/10/i_grandi_numeri_dieci_del_calcio.html#5|url-status=dead}}</ref> in 1999, Rivera placed 19th in [[IFFHS]]'s election for the World Player of the 20th Century, and was also chosen by the same federation as Italy's best player of the Century, and the 12th-best European player of the Century;<ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name=IFFHS/> he was also selected as Milan's best player of the 20th Century in a poll organised by ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]''.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Cento Milan"/> In 2004, [[Pelé]] chose Rivera as part of the [[FIFA 100]] greatest living footballers,<ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="Pele"/> and he placed 35th in the [[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]].<ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref name="UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll"/> In 2011, he was the recipient of the [[UEFA]] President's Award, which recognises outstanding achievements as a footballer, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities.<ref name=legacy/> In 2013, Sam Tighe of ''[[Bleacher Report]]'' included Rivera in his list of the "50 Greatest Midfielders in the History of World Football."<ref name="50 Greatest Midfielders in the History of World Football">{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1572011-50-greatest-midfielders-in-the-history-of-world-football|title=50 Greatest Midfielders in the History of World Football|publisher=Bleacher Report|last=Tighe|first=Sam|date=19 March 2013|access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref> That same year, he was inducted into the [[Italian Football Hall of Fame]],<ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/> and in 2014, he was named the 80th greatest player in World Cup history by ''[[The Guardian]]'', ahead of the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup in Brazil]].<ref name="100 top World Cup footballers"/> In 2015, he became the first Italian footballer out of 100 athletes to be inducted into Italy's sports ''Walk of Fame''.<ref name="coni.it"/> That same year, journalists of ''La Gazzetta dello Sport'' elected the greatest Italian player of all time, with Rivera finishing in first place.<ref name="Rivera: è il miglior calciatore italiano di tutti i tempi"/>

==Outside of professional football==
===AIC===
On 3 July 1968, Rivera founded the [[Italian Footballers' Association]] (AIC), in [[Milan]], along with several fellow footballers, such as Giacomo Bulgarelli, Sandro Mazzola, [[Ernesto Castano]], [[Giancarlo De Sisti]], and [[Giacomo Losi]], as well as the recently retired [[Sergio Campana (footballer)|Sergio Campana]], also a lawyer, who was appointed president of the association.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.assocalciatori.it/Aicstruttura/Lastoria/tabid/64/language/it-IT/Default.aspx|title=La storia|work=assocalciatori.it|publisher=Associazione Italiana Calciatori|language=it|access-date=21 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930102150/http://www.assocalciatori.it/Aicstruttura/Lastoria/tabid/64/language/it-IT/Default.aspx|archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref>

===Personal life===
Rivera is married to Laura Marconi; together they have two children: Chantal (born in 1994) and Gianni (born in 1996). He has another daughter, Nicole (born in 1977), with the Italian former actress and television personality [[Elisabetta Viviani]], with whom he was in a relationship at the time.<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/>

===Media===
Rivera is featured in the [[EA Sports]] football video games ''[[FIFA 11]]'', ''[[FIFA 14]]'' and ''[[FIFA 15]]'''s Classic XI – a multi-national all-star team, along with compatriots [[Bruno Conti]], [[Giacinto Facchetti]], and [[Franco Baresi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa-almanac.com/team/fifa13w/111205|title=FIFA 14 Classic XI|access-date=17 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930102150/http://www.assocalciatori.it/Aicstruttura/Lastoria/tabid/64/language/it-IT/Default.aspx|archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref>

In 2012, Rivera took part in the eighth season of ''[[Ballando con le Stelle (series 8)|Ballando con le Stelle]]'' (the Italian edition of ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]''), on [[Rai 1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archivio.panorama.it/societa/Torna-Ballando-con-le-stelle-nel-cast-Bobo-Vieri-e-Gianni-Rivera|title=Torna Ballando con le stelle, nel cast Bobo Vieri e Gianni Rivera|work=Panorama|language=it|author1=Marida Caterini|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808061834/http://archivio.panorama.it/societa/Torna-Ballando-con-le-stelle-nel-cast-Bobo-Vieri-e-Gianni-Rivera|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/>
|-
!rowspan="2" width="100"|Club
!rowspan="2" |Season
!colspan="2" |League
!colspan="2" |Cup
!colspan="2" |Europe<ref group="nb">Includes the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]], [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]], [[UEFA Cup]], and [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]</ref>
!colspan="2" |Other<ref group="nb">Includes the [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]], [[Coppa dell'Amicizia]], and [[Cup of the Alps]]</ref>
!colspan="2" |Total
|-
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[US Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]]
||[[Serie A 1958-59|1958–59]]
||1||0||–||–||–||–||–||–||1||0
|-
|[[Serie A 1959-60|1959–60]]
||25||6||–||–||–||–||–||–||25||6
|-
!colspan="1"|Total
!26!!6!!–!!–!!–!!–!!–!!–!!26!!6
|-
|rowspan="20"|[[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]]
||[[1960–61 Serie A|1960–61]]
||30||6||1||0||–||–||2||0||33||6
|-
|[[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62]]
||27||10||1||0||2||0||–||–||30||10
|-
|[[1962–63 Serie A|1962–63]]
||27||9||–||–||7||2||–||–||34||11
|-
|[[1963–64 Serie A|1963–64]]
||27||7||1||0||2||1||2||0||32||8
|-
|[[1964–65 Serie A|1964–65]]
||29||2||–||–||–||–||–||–||29||2
|-
|[[1965–66 Serie A|1965–66]]
||31||7||1||0||4||1||–||–||36||8
|-
|[[1966–67 Serie A|1966–67]]
||34||12||6||7||2||0||1||0||43||19
|-
|[[1967–68 Serie A|1967–68]]
||29||11||5||3||10||1||–||–||44||15
|-
|[[1968–69 Serie A|1968–69]]
||28||3||4||1||7||2||–||–||39||6
|-
|[[1969–70 Serie A|1969–70]]
||25||8||3||1||3||2||2||1||33||12
|-
|[[1970–71 Serie A|1970–71]]
||26||6||10||7||–||–||–||–||36||13
|-
|[[1971–72 Serie A|1971–72]]
||23||3||6||2||8||4||–||–||37||9
|-
|[[1972–73 Serie A|1972–73]]
||28||17||6||3||9||0||–||–||43||20
|-
|[[1973–74 Serie A|1973–74]]
||26||6||5||1||8||0||–||–||39||7
|-
|[[1974–75 Serie A|1974–75]]
||27||3||4||0||–||–||–||–||31||3
|-
|[[1975–76 Serie A|1975–76]]
||14||1||5||1||3||0||–||–||22||2
|-
|[[1976–77 Serie A|1976–77]]
||27||4||7||0||5||0||–||–||39||4
|-
|[[1977–78 Serie A|1977–78]]
||30||6||5||1||1||0||–||–||36||7
|-
|[[1978–79 Serie A|1978–79]]
||13||1||4||1||5||0||–||–||22||2
|-
!colspan="1"|Total
!501!!122!!74!!28!!76!!13!!7!!1!!658!!164
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!527!!128!!74!!28!!76!!13!!7!!1!!684!!170
|}

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="FIGC Profilo"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/rivera-intlg.html|title=Gianni Rivera – Goals in International Matches|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|author=Roberto Di Maggio|date=7 December 2002|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|1962
||4||2
|-
|1963
||5||2
|-
|1964
||4||2
|-
|1965
||6||1
|-
|1966
||6||2
|-
|1967
||4||0
|-
|1968
||4||0
|-
|1969
||3||0
|-
|1970
||7||2
|-
|1971
||3||0
|-
|1972
||3||0
|-
|1973
||7||2
|-
|1974
||4||1
|-
!Total
!colspan="2"|60!!14
|}

==International goals==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || rowspan=2| 2 December 1962 || rowspan=2| [[Bologna]], Italy || rowspan=2| {{fb|TUR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=2| [[1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying preliminary round]]
|-
| 2. || align=center|'''5'''–0
|-
| 3. || 10 November 1963 || [[Rome]], Italy || {{fb|URS}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 || [[1964 European Nations' Cup round of 16]]
|-
| 4. || 14 December 1963 || [[Turin]], Italy || {{fb|AUT}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || rowspan=2| [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| 5. || 10 May 1964 || [[Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]] || {{fb|SUI}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–1
|-
| 6. || 4 November 1964 || [[Genoa]], Italy || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 6–1 || rowspan=2| [[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|1966 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 7. || 1 November 1965 || Rome, Italy || {{fb|POL}} || align=center|'''4'''–0 || align=center| 6–1
|-
| 8. || rowspan=2| 29 June 1966 || rowspan=2| [[Florence]], Italy || rowspan=2| {{fb|MEX}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 5–0 || rowspan=2| Friendly
|-
| 9. || align=center|'''5'''–0
|- 
| 10. || 14 June 1970 || [[Toluca]], [[Mexico]] || {{fb|MEX}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 4–1 || rowspan=2| [[1970 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| 11. || 17 June 1970 || [[Mexico City]], Mexico || {{fb|FRG}} || align=center|'''4'''–3 || align=center| 4–3 {{aet}} 
|-
| 12. || 31 March 1973 || Genoa, Italy || {{fb|LUX}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 || rowspan=2| [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2|1974 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 13. || 20 October 1973 || Rome, Italy || {{fb|SUI}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 2–0
|-
| 14. || 15 June 1974 || [[Munich]], [[West Germany]] || {{fb|HAI|1964}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 3–1 || [[1974 FIFA World Cup]]
|}

==Honours==
'''AC Milan'''<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62]], [[1967–68 Serie A|1967–68]], [[1978–79 Serie A|1978–79]]
*[[Coppa Italia]]: [[1966–67 Coppa Italia|1966–67]], [[1971–72 Coppa Italia|1971–72]], [[1972–73 Coppa Italia|1972–73]], [[1976–77 Coppa Italia|1976–77]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1963 European Cup Final|1962–63]], [[1969 European Cup Final|1968–69]]
*[[European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1968 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1967–68]], [[1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|1972–73]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1969 Intercontinental Cup|1969]]

'''Italy'''<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.francefootball.fr/news/1969-gianni-rivera/423387|title=1969 – Gianni Rivera|publisher=France Football|language=fr|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] runner-up: [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Coppa Italia]] top scorer: 1966–67, 1970–71<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcuptops.html |title=Italy – Coppa Italia Top Scorers |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|author1=Roberto Di Maggio |author2=Davide Rota |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031163443/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italtops.html |archive-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>
*[[Ballon d'Or]]: 1969,<ref name="Gianni Rivera FIFA Profile"/> runner-up 1963<ref name="Milan and Italy's golden boy: Gianni Rivera"/><ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/>
*[[FIFA|FIFA XI]]: 1967<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |date=17 November 2015 }}</ref>
*''FUWO European Team of the Season'': 1969,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201970/Fuwo%201970%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1970|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref> 1970<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201971/FUWO%201971%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1971|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
*[[Capocannoniere|Serie A Top-scorer]]: [[1972–73 Serie A|1972–73]] (shared with [[Giuseppe Savoldi]] and [[Paolino Pulici]])<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italtops.html |title=Italy – Serie A Top Scorers |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|author1=Roberto Di Maggio |author2=Igor Kramarsic |author3=Alberto Novello |date=11 June 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231013436/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italtops.html |archive-date=31 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS|IFFHS Italian Player of the 20th Century]]: 1999<ref name=IFFHS/>
*[[IFFHS|IFFHS European Player of the 20th Century]] (12th): 1999<ref name=IFFHS/>
*[[IFFHS|IFFHS World Player of the 20th Century]]: (19th)<ref name=IFFHS/>
*AC Milan Player of the 20th Century: 1999<ref name="magliarossonera.it"/><ref name="Cento Milan"/>
*[[Golden Foot|Golden Foot "Football Legends"]]: 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/en/legends.html |title=Golden Foot Legends |publisher=Golden Foot.com |access-date=27 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029033413/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italcuptops.html |archive-date=29 October 2015}}</ref>
*[[FIFA 100]]<ref name="Pele"/>
*[[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]]: No. 35<ref name="UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/171606.pdf|title=Zinedine Zidane voted top player by fans|publisher=UEFA|access-date=24 July 2014}}</ref>
*[[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] Hall of Fame<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Gianni Rivera"/>
*[[UEFA]] [[UEFA President's Award|President's Award]]: 2011<ref name=legacy/><ref name="UEFA President's Award">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0255-0f8e705cf955-a181275bddd8-1000--uefa-president-s-award/|title=UEFA President's Award|publisher=UEFA|date=2 January 2014|access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref>
*Inducted into the [[Italian Football Hall of Fame]]: 2013<ref name="cinquantamila.corriere.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/breaking_news_show/49563|title=BARESI, CAPELLO AND RIVERA ACCEPTED IN HALL OF FAME|publisher=A.C. Milan.com|date=2 December 2014|access-date=27 March 2015}}</ref>
*Inducted into the [[Walk of Fame of Italian sport]]: 2015<ref name="coni.it"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coni.it/images/CNA_100_Leggende_per_data_di_nascita.pdf|title=CNA 100 Leggende CONI per data di nascita|publisher=Coni|language=it|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

==Notes==
<references group="nb" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{sports links}}
*[https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato/?calciatoreId=46252&squadraId=12 Gianni Rivera] at [[Italian Football Federation|FIGC]] {{in lang|it}}
*[http://www.italia1910.com/giocatori-scheda.asp?idgiocatore=552 Gianni Rivera] at Italia1910.com {{in lang|it}}
*[https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/index.php?mod=chp&par=92 Gianni Rivera] at TuttoCalciatori.net {{in lang|it}}
*{{webarchive |title=FIFA Classic Player: Milan and Italy's Golden Boy |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825023316/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=44571/ |date=dmy}}

{{Navboxes
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title= Awards
|list1=
{{Ballon d'Or recipients}}
{{Serie A top scorers}}
{{Coppa Italia top scorers}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{UEFA President's Award}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{Italian Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Walk of Fame of Italian sport}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Italy squads
|bg= #0066bc
|fg= #FFFFFF
|list1=
{{Italy Squad 1960 Summer Olympics}}
{{Italy Squad 1962 World Cup}}
{{Italy Squad 1966 World Cup}}
{{Italy Squad 1968 UEFA Euro}}
{{Italy Squad 1970 World Cup}}
{{Italy Squad 1974 World Cup}}
}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Gianni}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
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